One of the world’s most stunning Stutzes continued to rack up accolades this past weekend, taking Best in Show at the Keeneland Concours d’Elegance, its third such honor in the last year.

Purchased new by the Woolworth brothers, the 1929 Stutz Model M owned by Richard Mitchell of Montgomery, Texas, features coachwork by Lancefield of London as well as a supercharged 140hp, 322-cu.in. Stutz straight-eight engine. Reportedly the only Lancefield-bodied supercharged Stutz and one of only two supercharged Stutzes remaining, the Model M spent some years in the A.K. Miller Stutz collection in East Orange, Vermont, and participated in the 1997 Beijing-to-Paris Motor Challenge before eventually making its way to Mitchell’s collection in 2010. It has since made its way around the country’s concours circuit, beginning with a showing at last year’s Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance (where it won its class) and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (where it took second in its class) before going on to win Best in Show at last year’s Milwaukee Masterpiece and this year’s Ault Park Concours d’Elegance. On its way to winning Best in Show at Keeneland, it also won the Coachbuilt Classics class.

Tom Jones, co-chair of the Keeneland Concours, said that the car’s rarity and the detail of its restoration led the concours’s judges to pick it for Best of Show. “We were all amazed by this sinister looking car,” he said.

Next year’s Keeneland Concours d’Elegance, scheduled for July 18-21, will spotlight Mustangs. For more information, visit KeenelandConcours.com.

I wish I could understand the appeal of this sort of thing , the car is in better shape than when it left the factory I reckon. While I realize that ‘concours’ keeps skills alive , isnt this cheque book restoration the equivalent of face lifts and boob implants! I find more appeal in most barnfinds – aging gracefully. Sounds like me – I wish!

These type of cars are so beyond the typical car guy like myself…Oh well. It kind of looks like a chopped Model A. And I’m curious, do those bumper mounted lights swivel with the steering ? Anybody know ?

Chopped Model A on steroids! The stunning amount of money spent on this restoration pales in comparison to what our politicians spend on getting elected. I’d rather see it spent on restoring awesome cars like this one!

It would have been great if like Mike, I’d seen the car as it was found in the Miller collection. The impression of sitting low and peering out over the steering wheel is the result of the severely chopped top. My pics from the 2011 Pebble Beach Concourse shows the passenger ducking and elbows flying to fit into it. There is certainly something to be said about leaving a car as found, but that assumes it was drivable and (more important) enjoyable in that condition. I spoke with one of the restorers of the Mann’s Graber-bodied Duesenberg that won its class and “Most Elegant Open Car” in 2010 and have nothing but gratitude for those who lavish such TLC on these wonderful cars.

“Chopped” as in “chopped style” – “with an extremely low roofline.” I do not think anyone here meant to imply that someone took the car as built and altered the profile. No concours judge would accept such an alteration on a non-hot rod. Semantics!

Although the lady may be short I believe the car is right hand drive and the guy is the driver. The car has absolutely beautiful lines and I love the low roofline…adds to the sleek look. As for the “chopped” part….take a look at early 1930′s Chryslers and Dodges….they alsohad a low roofline and looked “chopped” from the factory. I am glad there are people out there with the passion and money to restore a truly classic car to this level for the rest of us to enjoy.

If the Terminator was a vehicle, this would be it.I fully understand why some “car guys” have a problem with the tendency toward “better than the factory built it” over restoration. However, if the modern materials and technologies had been available , I’d be willing to bet that the original builders would have used them in heartbeat. As much as we all admire the old iron, let’s be realistic about it. Many of the cars of the ’20′s through the ’50′s were far from ideal in regard to reliability, servicing, safety, and driving efficiency. Anyone with the resources and motivation to keep these treasure going for another hundred years or so has my sincere thanks.